Tropical Storm Alberto emerged seemingly out of nowhere about 140 miles southeast of Charleston, S.C., on Saturday afternoon. It initially is projected to aim generally northeast, parallel to the East Coast. Sunday morning, the storm was about 90 miles southeast of Charleston.

The storm was not expected to approach landfall on the Carolinas' coast, but it prompted a tropical storm watch and forecasters warned that it could produce high winds, heavy surf, rip currents and scattered rain across the region.

At 11 a.m. Sunday, Alberto was slowly moving southwest at 6 mph with sustained winds of 45 mph. It is forecast to remain at tropical storm strength until it fizzles in the North Atlantic.

Senior hurricane specialist Michael Brennan said Alberto was created out of an area of low pressure. Although it sits over the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the compact system is expected to run into dry air and die within the next four days, he said.

Experts say early activity doesn't necessarily mean the hurricane season will bustle. A few forecast teams already have projected this season will be average or below average.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releases its seasonal outlook on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Alberto weakened slightly off the South Carolina coast on Sunday, a day after becoming an early first storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.

The storm was not expected to approach landfall on the Carolinas' coast, but it prompted a tropical storm watch and forecasters warned that it could produce high winds, heavy surf, rip currents and scattered rain across the region.

Rick Knabb, a veteran tropical forecaster and most recently The Weather Channel’s hurricane expert, has been named director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County. He replaces Bill Read, who is retiring as of June 1.